NSO Group Fires CEO — and 100 Staff — in Spyware ‘Streamlining’
NSO, notorious producer of the Pegasus nation-state spyware, is struggling. So it’s dumped its CEO, Shalev Hulio, and around 100 employees.
It’s facing “significant financial difficulties,” we’re told. That’s hardly surprising, after the U.S. blocked people from trading with the company and seemingly pulled the rug from under its only lifeline.
Is this the end for NSO Group? In today’s SB Blogwatch, we wave goodbye to the “S” in NSO.
Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment. Not to mention: I ain’t worried ’bout karaoke.
NSO CEO Go — NSO now ‘NO’?
What’s the craic? Maayan Lubell and Steven Scheer report—“Spyware company NSO Group CEO steps down”:
“Rightful and worthy”
NSO Group … Chief Executive Shalev Hulio is stepping down with immediate effect, with Chief Operating Officer Yaron Shohat appointed to oversee a reorganisation. … A source in the company confirmed that around 100 employees will be let go … and that Shohat will lead the company until the board appoints a new CEO.
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“The company’s products remain in high demand with governments and law enforcement agencies because of its cutting-edge technology and proven ability to assist these customers in fighting crime and terror,” Shohat said in a statement. “NSO will ensure that the company’s groundbreaking technologies are used for rightful and worthy purposes.”
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Ben Lovejoy finds it bizarre—“Spyware company NSO downsizing”:
“Significant financial difficulties”
Spyware company NSO, whose Pegasus app can be used to give attackers almost full remote access to an iPhone, has announced that it is downsizing, and losing its CEO. Bizarrely, the company argues that this is in order to prepare for growth. … The company also claims that it will in the future only sell its spyware to NATO members, which would eliminate most of its more controversial customers.
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Given the company’s history of misleading, contradictory, and questionable statements, claiming that downsizing is a path to growth is par for the course. … Nobody is likely to give too much credence to anything the company says.
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The company is clearly now in significant financial difficulties. But [it] continues to cling on.
But it’s never that simple. Ryan Morrison—“Pegasus spyware developer restructures”:
“Heavily criticized”
Hulio was one of the founders of the scandal-hit company, and despite stepping down from the top job, he is expected to remain with the company. … A statement on the restructuring says the company will examine “all aspects of its business, including streamlining its operations to ensure NSO remains one of the world’s leading high-tech cyber intelligence companies, focusing on NATO-member countries.”
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Pegasus and NSO has been heavily criticized by human rights groups and researchers who say customers have abused the technology. While the company doesn’t disclose its client list it has admitted to having to cut off at least seven customers for abusing the technology in the past.
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The company says its technology is intended to help in the fight against terrorism as well as catch paedophiles and criminals. [But] the restructuring may have been prompted by NSO being hit by multiple lawsuits after allegations its tools had been misused by governments and non-governmental agencies to hack the mobile phones of journalists and politicians.
Lawsuits? You can say that again. u/qainin says that again:
They are getting sued at a rate that will bankrupt them. … They will not be missed.
What about the individual staffers? Don’t cry for them, says ElRegioLPL:
Didn’t all their staff get US blacklisted too? Imagine being let go from a job that’s ended up getting you on a US embargo.
Will the company need to change its name, now Shalev Hulio has gone? u/PassFlat2947 might not be joking:
[NSO] stands for Niv, Shalev and Omri, the names of the company’s founders. If Shalev left, they will need to rename it to NO.
Turnabout is fair play. At least, according to mustardjeep:
So anyone want to get a kickstarter going to pay NSO to worm his phone? I mean now that he is out it just seems fair.
What next? u/iambluest sounds suitably cynical:
So 100 employees and executives are moving to another country to build another suite of tools to sell to terrorists and dictators?
And @JosephRReagan agrees:
Most of them are just going to join a similar company with less visibility. … When you have a highly specialized set of skills, you tend to find that the job market is actually rather limited as long as you insist on seeking employment using those skills.
Meanwhile, u/fane1967 hopes to foresee the future:
Out of the laid off, some will become whistleblowers.
And Finally:
You have been reading SB Blogwatch by Richi Jennings. Richi curates the best bloggy bits, finest forums, and weirdest websites … so you don’t have to. Hate mail may be directed to @RiCHi or [email protected]. Ask your doctor before reading. Your mileage may vary. E&OE. 30.
Image sauce: Hardik Sharma (via Unsplash; leveled and cropped)
